A United States judge has rejected government demands for Google to sell its Chrome web browser as part of a long-running antitrust case, but imposed sweeping measures aimed at restoring competition in online search.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday by Judge Amit Mehta, marks a major moment in the government’s battle with Big Tech. While the court found that Google had illegally maintained its monopoly in online search through billion-dollar distribution agreements, it concluded that forcing the company to divest Chrome would be too disruptive and risky.
“Today’s decision recognizes how much the industry has changed through the advent of AI, which is giving people so many more ways to find information,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs. She added that Google remains concerned about the privacy implications of being required to share search data with competitors.
Under the new order, Google must make search index data and user interaction information available to qualified rivals to help them strengthen their services. A technical committee will monitor the implementation of these remedies, which take effect within 60 days. The court also extended restrictions to Google’s artificial intelligence products, blocking exclusive agreements that could give the company dominance in the fast-growing AI space.
The Justice Department welcomed the outcome but signaled it may push for further action. “We will continue to review the opinion to consider the Department’s options and next steps regarding seeking additional relief,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater. Legal experts, however, noted that the court stopped short of harsher penalties, such as breaking up Google or banning default search deals with Apple and Samsung.
The market responded swiftly to the ruling. Shares in Alphabet, Google’s parent company, rose 7.5 percent in after-hours trading, while Apple’s stock gained more than three percent. Analysts described the judgment as a significant victory for the tech giants, preserving key business arrangements while limiting government overreach.
The decision is part of a broader campaign against the dominance of Big Tech. Google is also facing a separate federal case over its advertising technology operations, while other major firms including Apple, Amazon, and Meta are battling antitrust lawsuits. Together, these cases reflect a bipartisan push to rein in the influence of the world’s most powerful technology companies.
